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3 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. ROMHILDT.

PIANO.

N0. 361,240.. Patented Apr. l2, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2. L. ROMHILDT.

PIANO.

1\10.7361,240. Patented Apr. 12, 1887.

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PIANO.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Louis EMIIILDT, or WEIIIAE, GERMANY.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 361,240, dated April 12, 1887.

Application filed .Tune 7, 1886. Serial No. 204,359. (No model.)

.T 0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs RMIIILDT, of Weimar, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and Improved Piano, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exact description. f

This invention relates to various improvements on piano-fortes, and has for its object more particularly to adapt the piano to resist tropical climates and moisture.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement, hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through an upright piano provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line R B, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the sounding-board; Fig. 5, a section on line E E', and Fig. 4 a section on line F F', Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a bottom View of the sounding-board. Fig. 7 is a section on line GG, Fig. 8. Fig. Sis a front view of the frame carrying the tuning arrangement. Fig. 9 is a section on line Z Z, Fig. 7 5 Fig. l0, Fig. 1l is a bottom view of parts l e. Fig. l2 is a section on line X X, Fig. 7; and Fig. I3, a section on line V V, Fig. 12.

In Figs. l and 2 the letter B represents the case or frame of a piano-forte. This frame is made of` metal, and is so constructed that it will not resound when the piano is used. To this effect the case B is covered or padded at its inner side with a cushion, c, iilled with wool, the cushion being formed of a smooth and tight fabric and being attached to casing Bin suitable manner. In lieu of the cushion a, the casing B may be covered by fleece or equivalent material attached by means of an adhesive. The casing B thus constructed will not be affected by changes in temperature or moisture, and will at the same time cause the production or, rat-her, propagation of a full and clear tone.

The casing B should be provided with crosspieces b, to which the frame Athat carries the strings is attached. Ihe outer surface of the casing may be embellished in suitable manner, and its appearance may be made similar to that of a polished or varnished wooden casing; but, if desired, the casing may be made to retain the appearance of bronzed or polished metal.

In order to adapt the sound-board to with- ,ment of the piano-forte.

stand tropical climates, it is constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 3 to 6, in which figures it is represented as being composed of a number of sections or boards that are united by means of ribs and binding-plates. rIhe boards or sections E are placed at a short distance from and parallel to each other, and are joined by means of the ribs F, placed beneath their lower faces. The binding-plates D are screwed to the contiguous edges of every pair of sections E, and thus imite the sections,while at the same time permitting their free expansion and contraction.

A sounding-board constructed in the abovedescribed manner may be attached to the casing B in the ordinary or suitable manner.

Figs. 7 to 13 illustrate the tuning arrange In these figures the frame A carrying the strings is provided with edges Z, which receive the rail d, to which the tuning-pin g is attached. t

The tuning arrangement consists of a rail, d, securely attached to frame A by piu t', and connected to an overlappingperforated block, e, likewise connected to frame A by means of bolt 7s. Upon the rail el there travels the perforated head f of tuning-pin g, such head being grooved at its lower edge, Fig. 9, for the reception of rail (l. The perforated head f receives the end of a set-screw, h, passing loosely through block c and having head 7a.. In use the head of the string is wound around pin g, the latter being meanwhile detached. Next the pin is placed opposite the end of screw h and the screw is turned to engage head f, thus drawing the piu toward block c and tightening the string.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of metal casing B with an interior non-resounding padding attached to such casing, substantially as specified.

2. In apianofortesounding-board, the combination of the sections E, with ribs F on the lower side and binding-plates D on its upper side, placed between the line of the ribs F, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification iu the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

LoUIs EMI-IILDT.

Witnesses:

EDMUND BAcII, RICHARD NRNBERGER.

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